President Obama delivers Eulogy
Read: Obama, Biden, and Gorman. Watch the video of Obama’s speech. Write:
• What is context in which the speech was written?
• Who is the audience for the speech?
• How does Obama establish common ground in the speech?
• Identify two writerly moves or choices Obama makes in the speech.
• Pick three passages from the speech that you find significant.
• Why are they significant?
• Briefly, discuss how Obama uses emotional language (pathos) and logical reasoning (logos)?
• Is the speech persuasive?
• How has watching the video altered or amplified your understanding and appreciation of his speech?
• Compare and contrast Obama’s speech with Biden’s. Questions you might consider could include these. Are the contexts different? Is the purpose different?
• How do you feel after reading Gorman’s poem?
• What is the context of her poem?
• Is there an argument in her poem?